“You’ve been quiet,” Daniel commented halfway through the meal. “I know how much Hannah?—”
Samuel didn’t slam his chopsticks and spoon down onto the table. However, he might as well have. The slow, deliberate way he placed down his utensils had the same effect. “Leave it.” His command was sharp.
“I would, but she is a fellow minister, and I think highly of her. She just went through a very public, very hurtful divorce. I don’t think you should try to pursue her right now.”
“I didn’t ask you what you thought.”
“That’s too bad. Whatever you have up your sleeve though isn’t a good idea.”
“What makes you an authority on what’s good for Hannah?”
“How are you going to be an effective leader if you don’t use your wisdom? Let’s say Hannah is the one for you. All I’m saying is don’t do the Han-uel thing and go into her life like a bull in a China shop. Prodigal, are you listening to me?” Daniel was his little brother, but he sounded like their Abeoji. While he respected his father and his brother, for that matter, he had already lost so much time with Hannah. There was no way he was going to sit back, and hope things worked out.
“I heard you.”
“You are still going to do whatever you want to do.”
Samuel lived his life being straight forward. As a grown man, he didn’t deal in subterfuge. “Yes, I am. I’m not going to tiptoe around Hannah.”
“Even if that brings her distress?”
“First of all. You aren’t an authority on her feelings. I don’t know why I have to keep telling you that. Sure, she might be upset, a bit hurt, but mostly she is pissed. Do you know what? She wouldn’t be any of those things if she hadn’t chosen the wrong man in the first place. I’m going to help her correct her mistake. She doesn’t need more time to wallow over that piece of trash. I gotta go,” Samuel announced as he pushed away from the table.
“Because you know you are wrong.”
“No, because I have a meeting with my new board.”
“Well, good luck.”
“I don’t need any. They might, though.”
“I was talking to them.” Daniel laughed. “Send Hannah my best.”
Classical music blared in his car as he drove from his brother’s home directly to the church. It never occurred to him to return home and select more appropriate attire. Samuel was surprised his brother didn’t suggest it. When he pulled his muscle car into the church parking lot, if an onlooker observed him, he was well aware they would never have guessed he was the new Co-pastor. The air was brisk, so he wore a black leather jacket. In fact, all of his attire was black. His dress shirt, black jeans, and boots. He looked more like a biker than a pastor.
It wasn’t his concern what they thought of what he was wearing. They came courting him for the position. So, they were going to get what they got.
The church secretary greeted him. He liked Corinth. He briefly remembered her from when they were younger. “Pastor Cho, if you will have a seat, I’ll call and let them know that you have arrived.”
A short while later, she came over to him. “Can I get you something to drink or a snack? It will take a while. Their previous meeting with Pastor Bank is running long.”
“Pastor Wilson,” he corrected. Samuel couldn’t help himself. She never should have been carrying that man’s name in the first place.
“Sorry. I’m getting used to the name change.”Don’t get too used to it. It will be changing again soon.
He smiled at Corinth. She returned to her seat. After a half hour, he asked. “Has Pastor Wilson been in there long?”
“Not really. Her meeting was scheduled thirty minutes before yours.” Her bright smile faded. “However, I think they have a lot to cover.”
“It’s alright.” The fact that Hannah had people on her side actually made him happy. It was another twenty minutes before the phone rang. “Pastor Cho, Brother White will be out in a moment to get you.”
It wasn’t long before the doors of the conference room opened.F Alvin White was the definition of a dapper older gentleman. He was seventy, with a completely white low afro. And despite it being a Wednesday morning, he was in a three-piece pinstriped suit.
“Pastor, thank you for waiting.” He greeted. There was no small talk as he was ushered into the room. Samuel got the feeling although it was White who had reached out to him, the man hadn’t wanted him to be the Co-pastor. However, White was all about the bottom line. At least he wasn’t fake about it. Which he could appreciate. As long as the man understood, Samuel would not roll over and let him do whatever he wanted, the two of them would get along. They already had a run-in.
“I’m sorry. You want me to sign an agreement to be the Co-pastor before you inform Pastor Wilson that I have been selected? Absolutely not. I will not put anything in writing until she is on board. That isn’t negotiable.”White had been furious, but Samuel had stood his ground.
The knowledge that Hannah was in the room didn’t prepare Samuel for seeing her in person for the first time in nearly eighteen years. His stride almost faltered when he saw her. Of course, she looked different from the last time he saw her. The last time she had been nineteen. However, she also looked different from the picture he’d seen of her in public. Her weight loss was visible. She couldn’t be taking care of herself to lose so much weight so quickly.
